Apparatus for handling strip metal



Jan- 4, 1944- I E. s TAYLERSON 2,338,143

- APPAPUX'IJUS FOR HANDLING STRIP METAL Filed Aug. 4, 1940 Patented Jan. 4, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT omcc APPARATUS FOR HANDLING STRIP LIE-TAL- tion of New Jersey Application August 4, 1940,- Serial No. 351,312

1 Claim.

This invention relates to apparatus for handling strip metal and more particularly to those which operate on relatively wide thin-gage strip steel.

In the manufacture of wide thin-gage strip steel, difiiculty is frequently experienced in handling the same, and this is particularly true when processing annealed, or annealed and mechanically tempered, steel. By mechanically tempering is meant temper rolling, stretcher leveling, roller leveling, and similar operations.

Mechanically tempered steel, while slightlyharder and stifier than the same steel in the as annealed condition, is quite soft when compared to the cold reduced steel prior toannealing; and is therefore more easily scratched and marred. In addition, such steel, when in the form of a wide, thin gaged strip is difficult to position and convey. This is true of continuous processing equipment of various types. The present invention is designed to overcome these difiiculties.

The foregoing and other objects will be apparent after referring to the drawing, in which:

The single figure is a sectional elevation of the apparatus of the present invention.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, the numeral 2 designates a conventional uncoiling device which is disposed adjacent, and adapted to feed into, a pair of suitably driven pinch rolls 4. Adjacent the uncoiling device 2, but disposed at a lower elevation, is a corresponding uncoiling device 5 which is also adapted to feed into. the

pinch rolls 4. By such an arrangement, it is devices 2 and 5 through the. pinch rolls fl-until the said coilis exhausted and then to attach the 4 leading end of the coil on the other uncoiling device to the trailing end of the former, thus making for continuity.

Immediately adjacent the pinch rolls 4 is a looping pit generally designated at I. This looping pit provides for an accumulation of strip in a substantially untensioned con'dition. That is to say, a freely swinging loop is provided which permits subsequent side-guiding. Immediately after the strip leaves the looping pit I, it is directed upwardly and between a plurality of offset rolls 9 which transversely flex the strip and therefore have the efiect of imparting some temporary characteristics in order that it may be laterally positioned. The ofiset rolls 9 are not driven and there is employedin combiration therewith a pair of guide elements In which contact the edges of the strip, one of which appears in the background in the single figure of the drawing as a plate. According to this embodiment, a plate In is disposed at each end of the plurality of ofiset rolls 9, being suitably aper- 5 tured to receive each of the individual rolls. These plates may, if desired, be provided with suitable adjusting devices (not shown) for accommodating strip of various widths. It will of course be readily understood by those skilled in 10 the art that numerous forms of side guide devices may be employed in combination with the idler rolls 9; for example, rollers, or the like. Disposed adjacent the plurality of idler rolls 9 and into which the strip is directed therefrom, is a series of spaced-apart rolls H shown in'the present instance as comprising five in number, the-axes of three of which occupy a common horizontal plane, while the remaining two occupy a lower plane common to each other. These spaced-apart rolls ii are of the same diameter, inter-connected in any suitable manner (not shown) for conjoint rotation, and are provided with a conventional drag mechanism '(also not shown), the latter of which may, for example, be an electrical generator whose output can be fregulated, or mechanical or hydraulic brake means which will serve to impart a retarding ini fiuence. The wrapping of the strip around the spaced-apart rolls it provides a snubbing" effeet, thedegree of which is proportional to the total area of contact between the rolls and the strip. Due to the substantialcontact area with the strip provided by the spaced-apart rolls II, the desired retarding influence may be obtained without scratching or marring the strip. The ,efiect of the adjacent portion of strip in the looping pit 7 provides for a small initial tension at a point immediately before it comes in contact with the idler rolls 9, and this small initial tension is enhanced by the said idler rolls. After- .the strip has been wrapped around the spacedapart rolls 1 i, it is directed through the processing equipment which is generally designated at X, and which may take numerous forms, for example, aseries of units for scrubbing, electroplating, andocleaning strip steel.

It is essential to the present invention that the strip S be dragged through the processing equipment X and that the spaced-apart rolls H provide back tension. Backwardly from the rolls 9 and lateral guides it, looping pit I and from the pinch rolls 4 to the uncoiling devices 2 and 5, thestrip is in substantially untensioned condition. In order to d'rag'the strip S through the processing equipment X there is provided a series of three spaced-apart rolls l2 whose axes occupy a common horizontal plane. These spaced-apart rolls I! are, like the spaced-apart rolls I I, of the same diameter and suitably interconnected (not shown) for conjoint rotation. However, the spaced-apart rolls l2 are, unlike the spaced-apart rolls ll, driven in any suitable manner (not shown). The strip is wound around these rolls l2 in a manner similar to that of the spaced-apart rolls II. In connection with the exit or last of the spaced-apart rolls l2 there is provided an idler roll M which maintains the strip in close contact .therewith. In contrast to the spaced-apart rolls H, the spaced-apart rolls l2 provide a cumulative tractive efiect, the degree of which is dependent upon the area of contact between the rolls l2 and the strip. Therefore, the spaced-apart rolls I2 are made to pull the strip smoothly without scratching or marring the same.

Due to the pulling effect exerted by the spacedapart rolls I2 the strip is moved entirely through the processing equipment X from the spacedapart back tensioning rolls l l, with tension preserved throughout.

While I have shown and described a specific embodiment of the present invention, it will be seen that I do not wish to be limited exactly thereto, since various modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention, as defined by the following claim.

I claim:

Apparatus for handling annealed metallic strip, comprising means for moving the strip longitudinally, an accumulator for maintaining progressive portions of the strip in a loose and substantially untensioned state, a side guide for restraining the lateral deflection of the loose and substantially untensioned portion of the strip, a plurality of spaced-apart rolls through which the strip passes in contact with a substantial portion of the periphery of each roll, said rolls being power-driven for applying pulling forces to the strip at a point beyond the loose and substantially untensioned portion thereof, means for processing the strip, the processing means being 20 disposed between the side guide and the spacedapart power-driven rolls, and a plurality of spaced-apart rolls through which the strip passes in contact with a substantial portion of the periphery of each roll to apply back tension to 25 the strip between the side guide and the processing means.

EWART S. TAYLERSON. 

